LECTURE Healthy Foods Green Spaces and Grounded in Philly Launch Party
Philadelphia is home to close to 40,000 vacant lots. Hear from two local activist groups—Healthy Foods Green Spaces and Grounded in Philly—both working to transform these abundant spaces into productive community gardens. 4:30pm. Free. Teens4Good Urban Farm, Eighth and Poplar sts. teens4good.orbius.com

PERFORMANCE When I Grow Up…
The all-too-familiar question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is explored in writer and performer Ben Storey’s new storytelling show. 7pm. $5-$10. The Trestle Inn, 339 N. 11th St. 267.239.0290. thetrestleinn.com

MUSIC Small Black with Heavenly Beat
Brooklyn-based electronic indie band Small Black, which started out as a bedroom-recording project in 2008 and has since graduated to bigger projects, performs with dream pop band Heavenly Beat. 10pm. Free. Morgan’s Pier. 221 N. Columbus Blvd. 215.279.7134. morganspier.com

Thursday, June 27

HEALTH Hip Hop for Philly Featuring Fabolous
In honor of national HIV Testing Day, teens and young adults between the ages of 13 and 24 who get tested at any citywide testing event will be given a free ticket to see chart-topping rapper Fabolous perform at the Troc tonight. 7pm. Free. Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St. 215.922.6888. thetroc.com

EVENT The Ultimate Match Party
Considering adoption? Get the rundown on waiting children while learning about building support networks from Tabor Children’s Services. Agencies will also be standing by to connect waiting children with adoptive families. 4pm. Free. Smith Memorial Playground, 3500 Reservoir Dr. 215.842.4800. tabor.org

READING Raymond Sokolov: Steal the Menu
Former New York Times food editor, author and foodie Raymond Sokolov stops by the Free Library to present his newest book, Steal the Menu. The book follows Sokolov’s four decades of food writing and takes the reader on a tour of the food revolution. 7:30pm. Free. Central Library, 1901 Vine St. 215.686.5322. freelibrary.org

MUSIC Darren Criss Darren Criss is really damn successful at 26, and his successes know no media bounds: He’s a TV star, a theater dynamo, a recording artist, an activist and actor (Can’t wait to see his big debut in Girl Most Likely). His Glee run started in 2010, portraying Blaine Anderson, chief Warbler and totally gay heart-throbbing teen idol. When he and the crooners’ crew lead a rendition of “Teenage Dream,” it ended up breaking Glee records—there are many—in terms of sales and reception. People ate it up. And you know what? Watching him do it in MTV’s studio on a simple Casio keyboard, it’s no surprise: The kid can really sing. And play. And emote. The San Francisco native caught television’s eye as a co-founder and lead in StarKid Productions’ A Very Potter Musical. And now, after a few years singing for the silver screen, he’s prepping a solo LP and sold-out a national tour, on which he plans to preview and share new tracks before he puts ’em on disc.

There’s a clip on the Internet of Criss singing a Bob Dylan’s “New Morning” with Chuck Criss, his brother, of Freelance Whales, and while there’s a tiny string of cheese laced throughout the performance, it’s plain to see that this Criss is incredibly talented and that his professional drive isn’t contrived or synthetic. There’s no doubt his sold-out TLA show will be filled with screaming girls—and, well, boys too—there to see those covers like he does on Glee. But it’ll also be genuinely interesting to hear what his new, original material will sound like. / Bill Chenevert

7:30pm. Sold out. Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St. 215.922.1011. tlaphilly.com

MUSIC Terrible Things
Taking Back Sunday’s decline in 2007 prompted front man Fred Mascherino to make damn sure he’d remain a presence in the music world. Come check out his efforts with a new three-piece, Terrible Things. 7pm. $10. With Modern Suits. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St. 215.291.4919. kungfunecktie.com

BENEFIT Motor Cars Under the Stars
United Cerebral Palsy of Philadelphia & Vicinity hosts a fundraiser at the Franklin Institute, for an evening of cocktails, buffet eats and, of course, elaborate classic and vintage automobiles and motorcycles. These mobile works of art are privately owned, so you may never have the chance to see them again, and certainly not at the Franklin Institute. 6pm. $250. The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St. ucpphila.org/motorcars

MUSIC Chronicles of Sound
Tonight, for $10, Chronicles of Sound is going to perform for you, give you an album and give you a chance to see the first segment of their graphic novel trilogy: Revolutions Part 1: Dayside. Close to Good and Montoj will join tonight’s classic video game and epic TV show-themed party. 8pm. $10. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave. 215.739.9684. johnnybrendas.com

PERFORMANCE Four’s the Floor
Beer pong, flip cup, kings, quarters—the thought of these drinking games must stir some fond or embarrassing memory in the murky recesses of your mind. Whether you’re a drinking-game pro, like Aaron McMurphy, or you could never seem to get the quarter into the beer, there will be plenty of free beer for you at Four’s the Floor. Come drink and listen to McMurphy pitch an exciting new business endeavor you’ll want to be a part of. 9:30pm. Free. Plays and Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St. solowfestival.blogspot.com

TALK M. Night Shyamalan
M. Night Shyamalan, screenwriter of The Sixth Sense, Signs, The Village and other films you may have an opinion about, will be onstage with Inquirer film critic Carrie Rickey, sharing clips, talking about the stories behind his films and taking audience questions. 7pm. $10-$20. Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad St. kimmelcenter.org

DANCE The Props Party
The Props Party is coming to Philadelphia, as DJs Rich Medina and Akalepse treat crowds to a night of genre-spanning tunes at Silk City. With a repertoire that touches on everything from hip-hop and house to Afrobeat and funk, these DJs have been turning heads for some 20 years. 10pm. $5. Silk City. 435 Spring Garden St. silkcityphilly.com

PARTY Hidden City Wrap Party
Hidden City Philadelphia is celebrating the final days of its monthlong festival with a wine and music-filled party at Hawthorne Hall—the site of the Society of Pythagoras exhibit, which has transformed the 118-year-old building into a massive clubhouse-style art installation. 6-8pm. $20. Hawthorne Hall. 3849 Lancaster Ave. hiddencityphila.org

Saturday, June 29

PUPPETRY Welcome to AnhedoniaMaybe you’re no stranger to live puppetry, and sure, you’ve probably been to your fair share of punk concerts. But until you’ve seen a punk rock puppet show, friend, you really haven’t lived. With an entire evening of befittingly offbeat entertainment, Zowee Productions is finally unveiling the pilot episode of Welcome to Anhedonia, its new Internet punk rock sitcom, which follows the adventures of ambitious half-man/half-puppet Jeff Connectorkit—along with his three slacker puppet roommates Harry, Artie and Scram—as he attempts to find a place for himself in a crazy world full of flesh and fabric faces, loonies, misfits and pony addicts. Clearly, it’s a story to which we can all relate.

Created in collaboration with the professional puppeteers of Monkey Boys Productions, whose work has been featured on Sesame Street and Crank Yankers, the show stars a brilliant cast of local actors and comedians and is really more of a parody of the sitcom formula. Before the screening, local burlesque queens Miss Rose and Hayley Jane will dazzle audiences with a puppet-themed performance—though no one’s really sure what that might entail, other than boobie tassels—while Mr. Deadguy freaks everyone out with his macabre ventriloquist act, of which everyone is certain will entail some freaky-ass puppets. Providing the soundtrack to it all will be none other than your host, legendary Dead Milkmen frontman (and PW’s Mayor Madness 2013 winner) Rodney Anonymous.

Having poured three years and much of his own money into the 20-minute pilot, creator Kevin Kelly is hoping that Anhedonia will gain some traction with audiences online and that he can eventually continue Connectorkit's awesome, punk rock adventure in a second episode. / Nicole Finkbiner

HEALTH National HIV Testing Day Health Fair
There are an estimated 30,000 people in the greater Philly region currently living with the disease, and Philadelphians are infected at a rate five times the national average—more than 50 percent higher than the residents of New York City. Founded in 1985 in response to the increasing HIV/AIDS cases within Philly’s African-American community, Bebashi is part of a local alliance actively striving to combat the epidemic, providing a variety of services through its North Philly headquarters.
For National HIV Testing Day, Bebashi is inviting people of all ages, races, gender and sexual orientation to spend an afternoon being proactive about their health while having a little fun in the process. In addition to free HIV screenings, along with blood pressure and blood sugar testing, the all-day fair will feature live entertainment from local dance teams, food, giveaways and kids’ activities. For anyone interested in supporting the agency’s efforts, tickets are currently available for Halos for Hope, Bebashi’s first collaborative summer fundraiser event with Urban Angel Foundation. Slated for Sat., Aug. 3, at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the black-tie event will feature live music by Urban Guerilla Orchestra, a silent auction, open bar and globally inspired cuisine from PAFA’S exclusive caterer, Jimmy Duffy. / N.F.

MUSIC Roots/Rock/Reggae Series
What better way to celebrate the summertime than with some vintage reggae music? That’s what fans can look forward to when Jamaican legend Barrington Levy—best known for hits like “Under Mi Sensi” and “Here I Come”—takes to the stage as part of the Roots/Rock/Reggae Series. 9:30pm. $30-35. The Blockley, 3801 Chestnut St. theblockley.com

SPORTS Gridiron Classic Weekend
The fourth annual Gridiron Classic offers kids the opportunity to hang out with NFL players, celebrities, business leaders and other sports fans over the course of one day. Created with the goal of using sports to positively influence the youth, the Gridiron Challenge features youth football and cheerleading camps and a celebrity flag football game. 7am. $5. Gambrel Recreation Center. 4800 Ditman St. thegridironclassic.com

DANCE Zombie Beach Party
Whip out the makeup and brush up on your Walking Dead trivia, because the Troc’s hosting a zombie beach party. Perfect for zombie fans and beachgoers alike, undead-heads will be treated to sets from DJs Kiltboy and Dave Ghoul, as well as live surf rock via Philly’s own the Sharkskins. 8pm. $10-$15. The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St. thetroc.com

PERFORMANCE Jug-Baby
Candra Kennedy, creator of the awesomely weird Water Bears in Space, is back with Jug-Baby. After they couldn’t afford to feed it, Jug-Baby’s parents place their newborn in a jug in order to mold it into something that they can sell to a circus. Yep, that’s the premise. Audiences are invited to join Jug-Baby as it embarks on a trek of self-discovery, replete with puppets, animation and live music. 7pm. The Arts Parlor, 1170 S. Broad St. artsparlor.weebly.com

COMEDY Tongue & Groove
As a truly interactive theater experience, Tongue & Groove asks audience members to anonymously share secrets to form the basis of sketches. The result is an improvised performance that can be hilarious, awkward and sometimes painful. 4pm. $20-$45. Playground at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St. tongue-groove.com

DANCE Church Dance Party
With music by MetalGearr and guest sets by DJs Prince and Kyle Jones, expect heavy doses of dubstep, rap and moombahton. Even if you have no idea what moombahton is, it should make for a fun night. 9pm. $5. Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St. undergroundarts.org

Sunday, June 30

FILM Ain’t in It for My Health: A Film About Levon HelmWhile recording 2007’s Dirt Farmer, his first album in a quarter-century, Levon Helm gave film director Jacob Hatley total access to, as fate would have it, what would end up being the last in-studio effort by the Band’s famed singer/drummer before his death of throat cancer in April 2012. Hatley’s resulting documentary, Ain’t in It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm, is all set for screening at the Trocadero Theatre, followed by a question-and-answer session with its producer, Mary Posatko.

The positively reviewed doc was shot around Helm’s home and studio in Woodstock, N.Y. for more than two years, and, according to the L.A. Times, “feels more cinema verité snapshot than keenly shaped biopic.” Hatley spoke with members of the musician’s family, as well as Band biographer Barney Hoskyns and Elizabeth Grafton, widow of bassist Rick Danko, getting intimate details from what, at the time, was left of Helm’s inner circle. And, throughout these moments, Helm quite obviously suffers from both his disease and the treatment he receives to combat it.

Ain’t in It for My Health also features several live-performance clips, including the Band’s famous Woodstock 1969 rendition of “The Weight,” arguably their best-known song. Ultimately, according to The New York Times’ A.O. Scott, the film is not meant to widen Helm’s circle of appreciators, but serves as an “affectionate tribute and a gift for fans who grew fond of his company on records or at concerts and who would like a little bit more.” / Randy LoBasso

PERFORMANCE Telling Fortunes & Defiant Kindness
A tough New Yorker-turned-ballet teacher and a Polish-born concentration camp survivor meet by chance in the early ‘70s and share with each other their life stories. The two men, who have led vastly different lives, discover one commonality. 3pm. The Playground at the Adrienne Theater, 2030 Sansom St. solowfestival.blogspot.com

FESTIVAL Multicultural Festival Concert of Colors
Can’t make it to the Caribbean this summer? Get your fix of steel drums, moko jumbies, and traditional handcrafts at this celebration of Caribbean and African culture. This event is rescheduled from its original June 8 date. 10am-8pm. $30. Fairmount Park, 5201 Parkside Ave. chccphilly.com

Monday, July 1

MUSIC Navasha DayaWhen Fertile Ground’s ever-dazzling frontwoman Navasha Daya released an EP in December 2012, it set off panic buttons among the indie soul set. The Baltimore-based collective and its quartet of stunningly soulful LPs from 1999 to 2005 created hordes of fans across the world on the strength of amazing live shows and catchy, gorgeously-penned songs filled with depth, mysticism and complexity, teeming with a diverse mix of genres. Well, Fertile Ground’s still in effect, only now in Atlanta—and thankfully, Daya, armed with her sultry vibrato, hasn’t gone anywhere but onto greener pastures, where her skills as a songwriter, arranger and producer can shine hindrance-free as a solo artist, in her own way and on her own terms.

Daya’s stellar, five-song Rebirthed Above Ground EP—which she wrote, produced and arranged herself—features the same sonic magic that kept FG audiences enraptured, evoking native cultures of Africa and the Americas while cultivating energies aimed at bridging cultural gaps and showcasing Daya’s dusky, Phyllis Hyman-esque vocals. Its mellifluous opening track, “Iwapele” (meaning “gentle character” in Yoruba) introduces some jazz stylings before the funky, bass-driven thump of “Galactic Soul,” a track that easily captures Daya’s many musical facets. And “Life Windows” gives it a rock edge, ending the record with a celebration of life’s simplest joys.

Onstage, she shines like the light she bestows, motioning to the heavens and beyond, painted like an ancient warrior-woman, adorned with gold-dipped feathers, cowrie shells and brass bangles. The Cleveland native’s show at World Cafe is her first in Philly since going it alone, and guests can expect to hear a mix of her new material and the Fertile Ground classics she helped cement in stone. Her presence will move you as much as the music. / Kenya Beverly

FILM Philly @ The Movies: Silver Linings PlaybookSilver Linings Playbook will once again grace the big screen, this time in Rittenhouse Square. Enjoy the Oscar-nominated film starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence—and shot in and around Philly—screened outdoors for free. 9pm. Rittenhouse Sq., 18th and Walnut sts. welcomeamerica.com

KIDS Go 4th & Learn
This series of interactive learning programs teaches children about cow milking and the history of dairy. At this children’s fantasyland, get your photo taken with a milkmaid, do some crafts, and get your face painted. The first 200 children to arrive will receive a free book. 10am. Free. Franklin Square, Sixth and Race sts. welcomeamerica.com

Tuesday, July 2

OUTDOOR United By Blue’s Meadow Lake Cleanup
South Philly’s Meadow Lakes in FDR Park is a natural beauty that’s in need of some love. Join United By Blue as they try to make trash pickup fun with free dinner, competitions and giveaways. Garbage bags, gloves and tools are provided. 5:30pm. Free. FDR Park, 1800 Pattison Ave. unitedbyblue.com

FOOD Wawa Hoagie Day
Seriously, how quickly do you think 4.5 tons (that’s 9,000 lbs.) of free hoagies will last? Yeah, better get there early. Mayor Nutter will be there to help with the munching. Drop off letters to our troops, and salute our military, firefighters and police, then stay and listen to the sweet tunes of the Liberty Belles. Noon-2pm. Free. Independence Visitor Center Lawn. welcomeamerica.com

Wednesday, July 3

MUSIC Questlove + D’Angelo: Brothers in Arms
The unique musical kinship of Michael Eugene Archer aka D’Angelo and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson can be traced back to an ages-ago incident when, during a Roots set when they opened for the Fugees, and D’Angelo, was in the crowd, Questlove turned a drum solo he always performed into a percussive SOS in the name of Prince. See, Quest had inadvertently thrown some shade at D’Angelo when they first met, Thompson being a self-professed R&B snob and all. Then, he listened to D’s record, at which point he kicked himself and thought, I gotta fix this.

That he did—and, thankfully, they’ve been jamming ever since, sometimes on stage, sometimes in the studio and sometimes at big blowout festivals like Bonnaroo. Last year, the duo sold out the Brooklyn Bowl as Brothers in Arms, a slow-building voyage that wandered through, primarily, D’Angelo content, with his soulful falsetto and funktastic keys manipulation getting perfectly cribbed by Quest keeping time. And really, it makes perfect sense when you think about it. Can’t you just hear Questlove’s drums lifting up gems like “Lady” and “Brown Sugar?” We all know that Quest’s an exceptionally busy man, so we’re pleased as punch that he and D were able to squeeze a pre-July 4th TLA gig into their schedules. No doubt it’ll sell out, too—if it hasn’t by press time. / B.C.

11pm. $35. Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St. 215.922.1011. tlaphilly.com

DANCE Summer Wonder: Native Nations Dance Theater
With the preservation of their culture in mind, the Native Nations Dance Theater will educate by exploring the clothing, dances, songs and stories of Native Americans. 11am. Free. Penn Museum, 3260 South St. 215.898.4000. penn.museum

MUSIC The Maine
This pop punk band out of Arizona has morphed from a predictable, by-the-numbers troupe to a forward-thinking and independent crowd-pleaser. Their latest LP, Forever Halloween, shows an active and welcome urge to grow outward. 5:30pm. $20. Theatre of the Living Arts, 334 South St. 334 South St. 215.922.1011. tlaphilly.com

MUSIC POPS! on Independence
Grammy winner Peter Nero and his Philly Pop Orchestra will play those old favorites and some new hits at this celebration of our country’s founding. 8pm. Free. Independence Hall Steps, Fifth and Chestnut sts.

Out of Town

PARTY South Jersey Entrepreneur Awards
Eat lunch, and get your network on with those big business brains in the state that looks most like an elbow macaroni. Awards will be doled out to the five fastest-growing companies in Jersey and those that give back the most to their communities. Thurs., June 27, 11am. $87. The Merion, 1301 U.S. 130 South, Cinnaminson, N.J.

STAGE Love Letters by A.R. Gurney
A love story of two people from their first thank-you note to the many letters chronicling their careers, marriages and mistakes, this touching, funny play follows the distance and dependence one couple shares on their journey to true love. July 15-30. $20-25. Hedgerow Theatre, 146 Rose Valley Rd., Rose Valley. 610.565.4211. hedgerowtheatre.org

MUSIC Summer in the City Concert Series
Philadelphia’s champion of soul Leon Huff presents R&B male vocal group Ju-Tuan for a night of free fun. Have your face painted, and enjoy free water ice during this classic and soulful R&B performance. June 27, 5:30pm. Free. Cooper Commons Park, Washington St. between Chambers and Sixth sts. blogs.cooperhealth.org/news

COMEDY Impractical Jokers
The cast of the TruTV reality series Impractical Jokers are performing a night of comedy alongside improv comedy troupe the Tenderloins. These hilarious slabs of meat are sure to tickle your funny bone. June 29, 7pm. $40-$85. The Music Box at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J. theborgata.com

STAGE Jekyll & Hyde
Enjoy a performance from some of the best student performers in Delaware. In the suspenseful and tormenting tale of Jekyll & Hyde, a scientist’s experiments evoke his inner evil. Through June 30. $15-$25. Marvin Street Theatre, 1501 Barley Mill Rd., Wilmington, Del. dastonline.org